Pure Love - Anthems

A lot of people were surprised when they heard Frank Carter’s new project, Pure Love for the first time. Long gone is the hardcore punk roots of his former band Gallows, Frank is now singing about love, and when I say singing, I mean actually singing. Pure Love shows a stark difference in his vocal style, there’s no shouting here and strangely, it works brilliantly. Joining Frank in the line up in Jim Carroll, or Jimmy Love as he is going by here, former Hope Conspiracy and Suicide File member.

Since their debut performance at the NME awards in Bush Hill in 2011 the band seem to have been on a constant tour showcasing their electric stage persona, fantastic crowd interaction and innovative use of the venue they’re using at the time. The last time I saw them was in XOYO in Shoreditch, during the set Frank brought the entire band and instruments into the crowd and continued to play, much to the joy of the audience. Their debut album, released February 2013 is a fantastic example of what makes this band so exciting, catchy lyrics, intricate guitar skills and a certain charm Frank seems to have.

The albums opening track ‘She (Makes the Devil Run through Me)’ is a great place for them to start, opening riff works perfectly to set up the entire album, Franks vocals break and the song is set up. The track is about not wanting to be with someone because you know they’re bad for you, lines like “she is the needle, not the vein in your arm” and “even though I hate being alone, I still wouldn't take you home” really paint the picture the band want you to see.

Next up is ‘The Hits’. This song to me shows how Frank must have felt just before leaving Gallows, how he felt trapped in a genre that had become bigger than him, he wanted to change his style yet he felt as if he was locked in. The song is heavier than the albums opener but still features the same alternate rock sound.

A highlight of the album has to be ‘Anthem’, played during their debut at Bush Hill and bootlegged onto YouTube, the track is almost croonery in its delivery; this song shows exactly what Frank wants people to think of his new band, powerful vocals and guitars working in tandem. The song is based around working yourself for something you want and that working from the bottom to the top is a lot better than just being put at the top.

An unfortunate low point of the album, in my opinion is ‘Heavy Kind Of Chain’, it’s strangely Grease like with the beginning resembling ‘Hallelujah’. I can’t even really understand the meaning of the song, I have a feeling it’s about war or something but past that I'm lost. However lows like this are more than made up for with tracks like ‘Bury My Bones’, their first release. The first line is kind of an introduction to the band and the new Frank, “I'm so sick of singing about hate, it’s never gonna make a change”. The song seems like he thought he was going to fail, which luckily he didn't.

The highest point of the album has to be given to ‘Handsome Devils Club’. The song’s message is clear, they are the handsome devils club, and they will knob anything that is alive and legal, whether the girl is good, bad or ugly, as long as she’s up for it they are too. The song’s main message is that they can do this, however they’d rather find a good girl so they can propose, Frank wasn't lying when he said he’s not singing about hate anymore.

Overall this album is a fantastic place for the band to start, combing catchy lyrics with genuinely amazing and powerful vocals with powerful guitar riffs works perfectly, Frank has matured and so has his music and it can only get better over time.